Abstract
This study investigated the relationship between building permit approval processes and development control outcomes in Sokoto State, Nigeria. A correlational survey design was employed. The study population comprised 35 Building Technology lecturers from Colleges of Education and town planners in Sokoto State. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, which was validated by three experts: two from Building Technology Education, Federal College of Education (Technical), Bichi, Kano State, and one from Measurement and Evaluation, Federal College of Education, Gidan-madi, Sokoto State. The instrument, titled Building Permit Approval and Development Control Questionnaire (BPADCQ), encompassed permit approval processes, prevention of illegal development, and quality of building plans. Reliability was established through a pilot test involving 15 lecturers in Zamfara State, resulting in a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.81. Data analysis utilized Pearson Product-Moment Correlation to determine the extent and direction of relationships, while hypotheses were tested using simple linear regression at the 0.05 level of significance. The findings indicated that building permit approval processes were weakly related to both the prevention of illegal development and the quality of building plans; however, the relationships were not consistently strong. The study concludes that enhancing institutional capacity, enforcement mechanisms, and professional practices is essential for permit approval systems to effectively promote sustainable urban development.
Keywords: Building Permit, Illegal Development, Quality of Building Plans, Development Control, Technical Education
Publication Date: 2025-12-10